The battle at the Montgomery estate raged with an intensity that shook the heavens.
Valen blurred forward, his speed defying the eye, but Elijah was faster. With a mocking grin, he snatched Valen's face mid-air, gripping him like an insect, and slammed him into the ground with terrifying force.
"So confident in your speed. To me, you look like a bug trying to escape death," Elijah smirked, his fingers pressing deeper, crushing Valen's skull into the concrete floor.
Out of nowhere, Palmer struck. His leg connected with Elijah's jaw in a devastating kick—one that could have shattered mountains. Yet, the impact only left a faint cut on Elijah's cheek, a wound that healed before Palmer even landed.
"Tsk… so hard," Palmer clicked his tongue in frustration.
Elijah wiped his cheek, inspecting the brief injury before flashing a sharp grin. "Stand proud, brother. At least you managed to leave a cut."
With effortless strength, Elijah flung Valen at Palmer. They crashed through the estate's fountain, stone and water exploding into the air as their bodies slammed into the wreckage.
Palmer groaned, clutching his ribs—broken. He coughed, wiping blood from his mouth.
"Just what kind of training did this guy do to get this strong?" he muttered, struggling to stand.
"He's your brother, why don't you ask him?" Valen grunted as he staggered to his feet. His wounds were already sealing shut. "Still, how do we even beat him to a pulp in the first place? What's the plan?"
Palmer averted his eyes. "Uhhh… there's none."
"Huhhhh!? You were sounding so bossy just now! I thought you had come up with a magnificent plan!" Valen shouted, his expression a mix of shock and betrayal.
"Well, I wasn't expecting to be fighting the lite version of my mom," Palmer muttered, shaking his head. He exhaled, trying to center himself. "What's even more troublesome is his passive ability to render our healing useless."
He paused, then narrowed his eyes at Valen—completely healed.
"Hey, Valen?"
Valen turned away. "Don't ask me. My body just healed on its own. You're the boss, right? You should be able to do it easily."
"Just tell me—"
"Yeah, tell him, Valen."
A deep voice cut between them.
Before either could react, Elijah was already there.
Iron spikes glinted in his hand.
"You're a bother, Valen. I don't know how you're able to negate my ability, but there's something more, it irritates me... I'll have to eliminate you first."
The words barely left Elijah's lips before he drove his foot into Valen's chest, sending him flying. Then, in one swift motion, he slashed through Palmer's arms and legs.
Pain exploded through Palmer's body as he collapsed. His regeneration—too slow. Too useless.
Then came the spikes.
One in his forehead.
Three through his abdomen.
They bent upon impact, pinning him to the ground like an offering.
Palmer gasped, vision blurring.
His body refused to move. His strength refused to respond.
Elijah turned back to Valen.
Valen roared, throwing a punch with all his might. Elijah caught it effortlessly.
Then, with a sickening tear, he ripped Valen's arm from its socket.
Valen's scream split the air. Blood gushed, yet before he could react, Elijah snapped the bone in his other arm.
Valen dropped to his knees, trembling.
Elijah gripped him by the throat, lifting him. His eyes were merciless.
"What happened to destroying my 'pride,' Valen?" Elijah mused.
Then, Elijah plunged his hand into his chest.
Palmer's breath hitched.
He knew what Elijah was pulling out before he even saw it.
A wooden stake.
The wood was darkened with age, yet its purpose, unmistakable. The engravings on its body were etched in an ancient, forgotten patterns.
Palmer struggled against the spikes, blood pooling beneath him. Move, dammit… MOVE!
"No, Elijah! Don't do it!"
Elijah barely glanced at his brother before returning his gaze to Valen.
"Pretty sure you recognize this." His voice was almost… nostalgic.
Valen's breath came in ragged gasps. He knew what was about to happen.
"When The Man that sealed our creator died, his body sprouted a tree, so vast it covered the skies of an entire city…" Elijah continued, his grip tightening around the stake.
"Elijah, don't—"
Elijah's gaze was emotionless. Yet his grip on Valen's throat never faltered.
"The wood from that tree was discovered to be fatal to us. So they crafted it into weapons. One fatal wound from it, and even the strongest supernatural being turns to dust. Our immortality seemingly laughable."
His fingers ran across the carved symbols on the stake. Centuries-old hatred flickered behind his eyes.
"The humans hunted us. Chased us into the darkness. We—superior beings—forced to fear creatures so weak they relied on wood and steel to survive."
Elijah exhaled. Calm. Cold. Detached.
"But things have changed."
He lowered the stake to Valen's chest.
Palmer screamed.
"It's me you want, Elijah! Take me instead!" Palmer yelled, thrashing against the spikes. His flesh tore as he struggled, blood soaking the ground.
Elijah barely spared him a glance.
"After centuries of peace, the humans have forgotten about the wood's power. Only a few still know about it. Happened to stumble upon this one out of luck." He twirled the stake in his hand. "I've never seen anyone die from it before. Might as well test it out here."
Across the battlefield, Kael, Ivy, and Kole froze. The panic that pulsed through Palmer sent shivers down their spines.
Inside the Montgomery estate, Sarah collapsed at the window.
Her hands shook violently as she watched, tears blurring her vision.
"No... No, no, no—!"
Palmer's throat burned raw as he screamed.
"ELIJAH—DON'T!"
A squelch.
The wooden stake sank into Valen's chest.